Series: Excellence

God created each of us for success! Each of us were made for more!

(Daniel 6:3 NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

Excellence (Online Definition) – consistent in good character, attitude, quality, and standards.

• A spirit of excellence is found in our identity.
• A spirit of excellence does not compromise!
• A spirit of excellence is a spirit of humility.
  • Promotion will always follow true humility!

• A spirit of excellence walks in integrity.

Integrity – (Dictionary) – the state of being whole, entire or undiminished.

How Do I Walk in Integrity?

We begin the walk of integrity in the small everyday things.

1. Integrity is a decision to have your life aligned with God’s Word.

My VW was out of alignment. Rattles, shakes, can cause damage.

2. Integrity is something you must practice every day. (It is not human nature.)
3. Don’t give your word unless you intend to keep it.

(Psalms 15:4 NLT) Those who… keep their promises even when it hurts.

(Psalms 15:4 MSG) …”Keep your word even when it costs you,

Follow through on your commitments.

(Matthew 5:37 MSG) Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

If you have no respect for your own word and keeping it, you will always have a difficult time believing in the integrity of God’s Word.

4. Place a high value on the truth.

(Proverbs 13:5 NIV) The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.

If you are a person of integrity, you will have this thing on the inside of you that you cannot stand lies.

Lies break down relationships because it erodes and destroys trust and confidence in people. Love the truth. Seek after the truth.

5. Do not be greedy.

(Proverbs 15:27 NLT) Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

(Proverbs 13:11 NLT) Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

We do not go for an unfair edge in our business dealings. You give value for what is being paid for by the other person.

Integrity always goes above and beyond in all that we do especially where money is concerned.

Integrity seeks the betterment of others; not just self.

6. Maintain moral purity.

If you want to walk in integrity, then you must walk in a high biblical standard where your sex life is concerned.

(1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

You must maintain the integrity of your marriage even in a society that really does not hold to that standard.

(1 Thessalonians 5:22 TPT) Avoid every appearance of evil.

Billy Graham – Modesto Manifesto (1948) Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, Grady Wilson, George Beverly Shea resolved to avoid any situation that would have even the appearance of compromise of suspicion.

7. Stay out of areas you do not belong.

(1 Thessalonians 4:11 MSG) (11) Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts.

Don’t try and insert yourself into situations where you do not have the facts on the matter. Be careful that you don’t make judgments before you hear all the sides in the matter.

(Proverbs 18:13 NLT) Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

(Proverbs 26:17 AMPC) He who, passing by, stops to meddle with strife that is none of his business is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

8. The world cannot slam the door on the child of God who walks in integrity.

(Psalms 25:21 NKJV) Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

(Psalms 26:1 NKJV) A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.

(Daniel 6:1-4 NLT) Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. (2) The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. (3) Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. (4) Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

(Daniel 6:25-28 NLT) Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! (26) “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His rule will never end. (27) He rescues and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (28) So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

(Much of the content for this series has come from the book How to Pursue and Excellent Spirit by Andrew Wommack.)

God created each of us for success! Each of us were made for more!

(Daniel 6:3 NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

• An excellent spirit will promote you in business, in ministry, or at home with your family.

We see this same thing in Joseph, Moses, David, and others. Because they had a spirit of excellence, they were all promoted.

Excellence (Online Definition) – consistent in good character, attitude, quality, and standards.

• A spirit of excellence is found in our identity.
• A spirit of excellence does not compromise!
  • The opposite of compromise is conviction.
  • A conviction is what we hold to based on the Word of God when everyone around us is compromising.
  • A person with a spirit of excellence is not concerned with what other people think about them. A person with a spirit of excellence is only concerned with what God thinks about them.

• A spirit of excellence is a spirit of humility.

Many believers operate under a misunderstanding of what true, biblical humility is.

(Romans 12:3 NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

(Romans 12:3 TPT) God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.

• God will not share His glory with another. Neither will He tolerate us “polluting” His name through a false sense of humility.

We need to think of ourselves soberly, yet righteously. If you are taking credit for a God-given talent or ability, you aren’t being humble and you’re limiting how God can promote you.

Similarly, if you’re constantly brushing aside God’s protection and blessing as coincidence or nothing special, you are not operating in humility.

• True humility recognizes God.

Brothers and sisters, you can’t walk in excellence without humility. This may be hard to hear, especially for those who have worked their whole lives to become self-sufficient, but humility is not self-sufficiency. It is not self-confidence.

• Humility is being God-confident. It’s being God-dependent.

Humility says, “There is a God, and I’m not Him!”

Self-confidence or self-sufficiency is pride. Independence from God is pride. And God does not promote pride.

• God hates pride and will resist it.

(Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: (17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, (19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

(James 4:6-7 AMPC) But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). [Pro 3:34] (7) So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

• Jesus never promoted Himself. But neither did He deny who He was.

He told people, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), but He also said that He could do nothing of Himself but only what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). Jesus wasn’t inflated with pride; He spoke the truth while giving credit to His Father. That’s God-dependence. That’s humility.

People can get very proud of their “humility.” But true humility is not this idea of I am nothing; I can do nothing. True humility doesn’t exalt self. True humility doesn’t debase self. True humility isn’t about self at all. Self is pride. Highlighting your accomplishments is pride. The need to share your opinion is pride. Slandering or gossiping about someone to improve your reputation is pride. Avoiding criticism is pride. Worrying about what other people think is pride.

• True humility is saying about yourself what God says about you. True humility agrees with God.

If God says you are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), then you are. To say otherwise would be exalting your own opinion above God’s opinion.

• Humility knows that every good thing is a result of the grace of God.

Without the grace of God—without His supernatural ability and empowerment—we can do nothing. The grace of God gave us Christ.

Perfectionism (American Heritage Dictionary) a tendency to set extremely high standards and to be dissatisfied with anything less. Perfectionism is proud and arrogant. It is critical and judgmental of people, ideas, and work that doesn’t meet its standard. (It is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.)

• Excellence still has high standards, but it recognizes the roles that others—especially God—play in meeting those standards.

True humility doesn’t deny what God has done. True humility just denies that “self” had anything to do with it!

• Promotion will always follow true humility!

(Proverbs 15:33 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)

(Proverbs 18:12 NKJV) Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)

(Proverbs 22:4 NLT) True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. (Kabod – honor, glory, majesty, wealth)

(1 Peter 5:5-7 NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (6) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Exalt (GREEK) – Generally to raise to a condition of prosperity, dignity, honor.

God created each of us for success! Each of us were made for more!

Potential isn’t enough to guarantee promotion, we must discover the missing ingredient – the secret sauce.

(Daniel 6:3 NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

We see this same thing in Joseph, Moses, David, and others. Because they had a spirit of excellence, they were all promoted.

• An excellent spirit will promote you in business, in ministry, or at home with your family.
• A spirit of excellence is a heart attitude.

Excellence (Online Definition) – consistent in good character, attitude, quality, and standards.

Perfectionism (American Heritage Dictionary) a tendency to set extremely high standards and to be dissatisfied with anything less. Perfectionism is proud and arrogant. It is critical and judgmental of people, ideas, and work that doesn’t meet its standard. (It is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.)

• A spirit of excellence is found in our identity.
• If you want to begin rising to the top, discover your identity in Christ and begin living out of that place and an excellent spirit will rise out of you too!

• A spirit of excellence does not compromise!

Compromise (Dictionary) – to make concessions to settle a disagreement; accept standards that are lower than is desirable.

• Whatever you compromise to keep, you will ultimately lose.
• The opposite of compromise is conviction.

Conviction (Dictionary) – a strong belief or opinion.

A conviction is what we hold to based on the Word of God when everyone around us is compromising.

• People compromise because they cannot handle the thought of persecution.

In the book of Daniel, we see Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had already been promoted by King Nebuchadnezzar because God blessed them with great wisdom and they had an excellent spirit.

But the King decided to make a huge gold statue of himself and demand that everyone fall down and worship the statue when certain music was played.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow – they refused to compromise. Their conviction was that God was the only true and living God, they would worship Him only, and He would bring deliverance.

Nebuchadnezzar heard of their disobedience and was furious. The King actually gave them a second chance to bow but they refused. He then gave the order for these three Hebrew men to be thrown into the fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not afraid of what the King or anyone else thought about them for that matter. They told the king that his threats were no big deal. Their God was greater than any man that sets himself up as a god.

• A person with a spirit of excellence is not concerned with what other people think about them.

• They are only concerned with what God thinks about them.

(Daniel 3:16 NKJV) (16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

(Daniel 3:16 NLT) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.

“Your threats are no big deal to us…”

(Proverbs 29:25 MSG) The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that.

(Psalms 118:6 NLT) The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?

(Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” (6) So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?”

This is why Jesus did not feel the need to respond to the religious leaders or Pilate when He was arrested.

(Daniel 3:15-16 NKJV) Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” (16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

(Daniel 3:17-18 NKJV) (17) If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (18) But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

They were not questioning whether God would deliver them; they were questioning whether Nebuchadnezzar would follow through with his threat.

(Daniel 3:19-24 NKJV) Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. (20) And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. (21) Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (22) Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. (23) And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. (24) Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

• They had the promise of God that they would be delivered.

(Isaiah 41:10 AMPC) Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. [Act 18:10]

(Isaiah 43:2 ERV) When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you.

(Daniel 3:25-30 NKJV) “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (26) Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. (27) And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. (28) Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! (29) Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” (30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

• When you don’t compromise, despite the pressure, you can count on the Fourth Man being in the fire with you!
• He will bring you out and promotion will follow!!

Do what God tells you to do. Don’t compromise. Don’t let potential problems or potential loss sidetrack you. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t, and here we are still talking about them 3,000 years later!

(Psalms 75:6-7 KJV)  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  (7)  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

• Promotion comes from God.

God is not the One who determines whether you are promoted or not.

God created each of us for success! Each of us were made for more!

(Psalms 139:14 NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

It does not matter how much money you make, where you live, who your parents are, or the color of your skin. It doesn’t matter how we’ve failed in the past or what talents or education we may think we are missing. We all have the potential for greatness – if for no other reason than because the Spirit of Christ dwells within us.

However, potential is not enough.

Myles Monroe once said, “The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.”

Potential isn’t enough to guarantee promotion, we must discover the missing ingredient – the secret sauce.

I once heard it said that “experience is the best teacher.” This saying is not true. The best teacher is to learn from someone else’s experiences.

(1 Corinthians 10:11 NET) These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

We can look to the life stories of the Old Testament saints – both the good and the bad – and learn how to avoid some of the pain that comes when learning through trial and error.

In captivity by an evil, ungodly society, the Hebrew people were viewed by the Babylonians as the lowest class of society. Yet in the middle of all that, Daniel and his three friends grew in favor and influence with four kings in two different world systems to become powerful rulers and advisors. How as this possible in these less-than-ideal circumstances?

(Daniel 6:3 NKJV) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

We see this same thing in Moses, David, and others. Because they had a spirit of excellence, they were all promoted.

• The circumstances around you do not have to be ideal for God to promote you!

An excellent spirit will cause you to be promoted in business, in ministry, or at home with your family.

God delights in excellence, but excellence starts in the heart.

• A spirit of excellence is a heart attitude.

If you aren’t being promoted, if it seems like everyone else is prospering while you struggle to make ends meet, or if you feel like you’ve been passed over for a promotion, it may be that you don’t have the right heart attitude.

• If you are going to see promotion, you must maintain a good attitude, regardless of what other people do to you and regardless of the circumstances.

Your heart attitude could be hindering you from living out God’s best for your life.

Excellence (Online Definition) – consistent in good character, attitude, quality, and standards.

Perfectionism (Online Definition) the tendency to demand of others or of oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance, more than what is required by the situation. (It is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.)

For three years, Daniel and his friends were groomed to serve King Nebuchadnezzar as Chaldean (Babylonian) wise men. Since Babylon was conquering nations and growing so quickly, there weren’t enough educated men to run the government. So the king began taking young, handsome men from countries he invaded and taught them the history and laws of Babylon that “they might stand before the king” and advise him. Daniel and his friends were chosen because of their youth, appearance, and aptitude.

But to serve the king, they were expected to discard their former identity and adopt the pagan identity of Babylon.

Everything about these men reflected their heritage and their relationship with God—even their names.

According to Strong’s Concordance:

• • Daniel means “judge of God”
  • Hananiah means “Jah has favored”
  • Mishael’s name asks “Who (is) what God (is)?”
  • Azariah’s name declares “Jah has helped.”

The king’s official was given a very specific job. He was to strip these men of their Jewish identity and refashion them into Babylonians, starting with their names:

(Daniel 1:6-7 NKJV) Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (7) To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Daniel and his friends refused to conform to the customs and behaviors of the world around them. They knew who they were. Their God-identity protected them through the trials and temptations of Babylon.

• A spirit of excellence is found in our identity.

Identity (Webster’s Dictionary) the distinguishing character or personality of an individual; sameness of essential or generic character in different instances

We often think that our identity is what makes us unique but the definition of identity states that it is the thing that makes us the same as someone else.

Originally, we were created in the image of (the same as) God—a spirit. Through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, we lost that identity. But when we were born again, we were made brand new!

• We are more than what we can see or feel. We are the children of God! We have a new identity!

But this new identity can sit dormant within us if we don’t find out and acknowledge who we are in Christ.

• Your identity is the first place that the devil is going to challenge you.

(Luke 3:21-22) NKJV When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

(Luke 4:3 NKJV) And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

Satan’s goal was to get Jesus to doubt who God said He was.

Satan had used that same trick on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When the serpent told Eve that if she ate of the forbidden fruit she would be like God, he was trying to get her to doubt who God said she was (Gen. 3:5). Eve was already like God (Gen. 1:26) because she was created in His image.

The first Adam sinned because he didn’t know his identity. The last Adam, Jesus, didn’t sin because He knew His identity. That’s powerful! What you don’t know can hurt you.

• If you want to begin rising to the top, discover your identity in Christ and begin living out of that place and an excellent spirit will rise out of you too!